Page 96 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage
Adaira still seemed confused, but trust won out over her fear, so she nodded and released her friend’s hand.
Briony turned and hurried out before she could change her mind.’Twould be far too easy to just stay at the inn, where things feel safe, but the truth is nowhere is safe right now. I can’ know if Niall will stop anytime soon. If he keeps getting angrier, he might kill everyone before he’s satisfied.
The only way to end this is to find Mr. McLaren and get that sealskin.
The Wounds That Never Heal
Briony was passing the Calhouns’ house when she heard, “Briony! I could use yer assistance over here!”
She stopped in her tracks and turned to find Dr. Sherwin and Steven McLaren standing at the church entrance. She gasped at the sight of the old man’s face, for it was covered in bright-red burns.
Briony deliberated between going over and continuing down to the beach, but then she saw the panicked look in the doctor’s eyes.
Steven McLaren grumbled under his breath as she approached, but she ignored him and asked, “What can I do?”
“Finish bandaging up Mr. McLaren here while I see to the others. Take this,” Dr. Sherwin ordered, handing her some wrappings. He picked up his bag and went deeper into the church, toward Matthew Levins, who was sporting similar burns along his arms.
Many other fire victims were sitting within, either crying or praying as lightning continued to strike outside. The commodore and many of his men were there too, filling the space with their enormous numbers. Briony even spotted Laird Oliver with his wife. Neither appeared injured, but the pompous looks that usually graced their faces were absent. In fact, everyone’s face wore the same expression of terror, and Briony’s part in all this made her guilt all the more intense.
Steven McLaren grimaced when Briony began covering his wounds, but he didn’t speak to her; even when she adjusted a bandage and she was certain it must have hurt, the only sound that came from his lips was a faint hiss.
“Mr. McLaren, do you know where yer son is?” Briony asked as she finished.
“Whydo you want to know?” The man’s voice was so acerbic that Briony didn’t pity him when he fell into a coughing fit shortly afterward.
Briony put her hands on her hips. “He was supposed to meet me a while ago, but I have na seen him. Is he in the market or down at his boat? ’Tis very important that I find him.Fast. If you know where he is, tell me.”
The old man raised his eyebrows in surprise at her tone, but then he winced in pain. “Tam was with me when the tailor shop caught on fire and went running to help put it out, same as the other men.”
Briony rolled her eyes. “Na him! I’ve no reason to see Tam. I meant Vincent!”
“Why would I know where that madman is, you witch?!”
Briony clenched her fists and opened her mouth to shout insults of her own, but then she heard, “She’s no witch, you old fool, and she deserves better than you calling her one!”
Briony’s mouth dropped open as Dr. Sherwin marched forward and looked Steven McLaren in the eye. “Briony Fairborn has done more fer this town than you ever have, and she has put up with far more than she should have. If you think talking to her like that is the best way to repay her, then you best start looking fer another doctor. I hear the one in Hollandstoun is decent. And that goes fer all the rest o’ you too!”
Dr. Sherwin’s eyes swept over the crowd, many of whom had been listening in. The villagers were so surprised that they didn’t dare speak and looked away as if they hadn’t been staring. Briony smirked at the bewildered faces of the Olivers as they, too, pretended they hadn’t heard the doctor’s words.
Steven McLaren was in such shock that when he tried to reply, all that came out of his mouth was gibberish. The doctor turned back and resumed glaring at the old man until Steven scuttled off to his friends, no doubt to gossip about what had just happened.
Dr. Sherwin turned to Briony, who was still gaping and trying to think of how to express her gratitude. “Briony, are you leaving? I still need you. Almost everyone is too frightened to be o’ any use. Besides the commodore’s surgeon, yer the only levelheaded person here.”
She shook her head sadly. “I-I’m sorry, Doctor, but I have to find Vincent McLaren. He’s the only one who can help me fix this.”
“Vincent McLaren? I can’ say I’ve seen him, and even if I had, I don’ see how he could help you—Fix this? What are you talking about? ’Tis a frightful storm, aye, but na something you can fix…” Dr. Sherwin trailed off as he spoke, and a curious look came onto his face. “Does this have something to do with why yer temperature was so high the day before Johnsmas?”
Briony let out a humorless chuckle.Ewan Sherwin may be the sharpest man in all o’ Everton.
“It almost sounds like yer implying something beyond science is behind this,” Briony said with a raised brow.
The doctor narrowed his eyes. “Don’ evade the question, Briony.”
She sighed. “To tell you the truth, ’tis my fault fer all this. If I’d been certain o’ my feelings sooner, maybe this would na be happening now.”
“You do realize I have no idea what yer talking about, aye?”
“Just trust me. I’m o’ far better use to you out there than I am in here!”
